Daisen Oki National Park 大山隠岐国立公園
An all-in-one park
Whether you are looking for a nature break, a sports afternoon or a spiritual walk, Daisen Oki National Park, which covers more than 350 km 2 , between mountains and the Sea of Japan (the park indeed includes the Oki archipelago) will meet your expectations.
A spiritual park
You will not miss the visit of the temples, which are numerous in the park. Before the Shinto religion was declared the main religion in Japan in the 19th century, the park contained more than a hundred shûgendo temples , a religion that mixes Buddhism, shamanism and Japanese animism, in which more than 3,000 soldier monks lived. Today, although most of these temples have been destroyed, four large halls and five small temples are still standing. To these is added the Daisen-ji temple, located on Mount Daisen , which is a stage of the Chûgoku Kannon pilgrimage . The Ogamiyama shrine is also worth a visit: it perfectly illustrates Shinto architecture, with its main hall and its prayer hall united under the same roof and connected by a small passage. Also climb Mount Mitoku , to discover the Nageire-do Hall, built into the side of the volcano more than 1000 years ago. To complete this spiritual walk, do not hesitate to go to the Enryu-in temple , rebuilt in 2009 and which houses 108 works by mangaka Shigeru Mizuki . You can take advantage of your presence on the premises to undertake a zazen session or practice your sutra writing .
Other national parks :
A walk that is not necessarily easy
Are you less spiritual than athletic? You will find your happiness at the Daisen Oki natural park. A wide network of cycle paths serves the park in every nook and cranny and allows you to admire the fauna of the park: 130 different species of birds , a thousand tundra swans and even the osanshôuo or giant salamanders ! It's up to you to pedal between the different mountains (Mount Sanbe, Mount Kenashi, Mount Mitoku) and their ponds. The less courageous among you can even rent an electric bike. Besides cycling and hiking, you can also rent kayaks or play golf! In winter, the park turns into a ski resort , with slopes for beginners and experienced skiers alike. If you are in the mood for the sea, know that it is possible to take the ferry to visit the Oki archipelago , whose Dogo, Nishinoshima, Nakanoshima and Chiburijia islands have been part of the UNESCO World Geoparks since 2013. After the effort the comfort: you can recuperate in one of the many tea rooms, gourmet restaurants or even wine bars scattered around the park.
We can only advise you to book a night there, in order to fully appreciate all that the Daisen Oki natural park has to offer, without rushing.
Mount Daisen
The highlight of the show is still Mount Daisen, whose summit reaches 1,729 meters . The Tendai stream of Buddhism for a long time prevented ordinary citizens from climbing the volcano, because it was sacred, and its ascent was therefore open to the public only from the Edo era . Although it is nicknamed the "local Mount Fuji", Mount Daisen remains much less crowded and is open throughout the year . It provides you with the perfect solo hike. After about three hours of climbing, you can admire the panoramic view of Daisen Oki Park, which covers the three prefectures of Okayama, Shimane and Tottori , and on a clear day you can even see the Sea of Japan below. .
The almost twin of Mount Fuji!
Kagawa Ymg
Address, timetable & access
Address
Phone
+ 81 (0)86-223-1577Timetable
By bus, from Yonago or Daisen-guchi station to Mount DaisenWebsite
https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/daisen/index.html
